A Status Report on Homeless Families in America's Cities. A 29-City Survey.

Waxman, Laura DeKoven; Reyes, Lilia M.

This survey assesses the status of homelessness among families in cities. The data were collected from city officials during April 1987. The findings include the following: (1) the number of homeless families increased by 31 percent during the last two years; (2) families represented one-third of the homeless and a single parent headed two-thirds of those families; (3) the number of families temporarily living with friends or relatives has increased; (4) the most serious problem faced by the homeless was lack of food and/or poor nutrition; (5) the major consequence of homelessness was emotional and psychiatric problems; (6) a main cause of homelessness was lack of affordable housing; (7) the number of shelter beds in the survey cities had increased over the last two years; (8) families must break up in order to be accommodated in most shelters; (9) 30 percent of the families seeking emergency shelter were turned away; (10) use of the shelters during specific times of the day and the length of stay in the shelters were limited; (11) most cities provided assistance in obtaining permanent housing and emergency food assistance; (12) low-income housing was the service most lacking; (13) the number of homeless families was expected to increase; and (14) every city cited the lack of affordable housing as a major barrier to permanently housing families in the future. Statistical tables, a copy of the survey questionnaire responses, and comments from respondents are included. (FMW)